In Defense of Cloud Strife from Final Fantasy VII

[insaneladybug]

I've been thinking for some time about the odd and often ludicrous arguments that come up when people dislike or even hate Cloud Strife. Today it suddenly occurred to me that I should write a little defense for him. This is for the original Final Fantasy VII Cloud, even though I also like his counterpart from Kingdom Hearts (who is a completely

Comments

[cskazaam]

I definitely agree with all of these points! It's hard to believe that anyone who's actually played the orginal game, or read a lot about it, would seriously come away hating Cloud for the things that he did, especially when most of them were out of his control.

I've also heard people accuse Cloud of lying because of him pretending to be First Class after Nibelheim, when he first joined Avalanche. But I'm not sure how you can really call that lying... what with taking Zack's memories, and crafting a new identity for himself (something that he couldn't help and probably didn't even realize was happening), he actually *believed* he was First Class. He honestly didn't know who he really was, so he can hardly be blamed for that. It was his way of protecting himself from the horrible reality of what had happened.

[insaneladybug]

Yeah! **nodnod.** I probably should have specified that under the section about him "taking" Zack's memories. It's just ridiculous, to hate him because he had a nervous breakdown and honestly believed the things he was saying about himself. It seems so uncompassionate and unkind.

[cskazaam]

Exactly! And Cloud himself apologized for pretending to be who he wasn't, once he found out his real identity. "Lying" was not something that he would have chosen to do if he'd had a choice in the matter. The whole thing was just really tragic... how Zack had ended up forgotten, and Cloud ended up believing Zack was him. Though on the other hand, it's also a compliment to Zack and how wonderful a person he was that Cloud chose his identity to keep him going.^^ If anything, I think Zack would have been honored that he'd done so (though probably sad at the whole situation, as well), and he'd want his friend to do whatever he had to to keep going.

[insaneladybug]

**nodnod.** Cloud really idolized Zack. ^^ That comes out a lot in Crisis Core. Zack is probably everything Cloud wanted to be---strong, determined, able to help.... I always imagine Zack following Cloud around in spirit form, trying to get through to him and get him to remember who he is, so he can get his life in order again. ^^

[beccadg]

Great defense! Nicely done!! :D

[insaneladybug]

Thank you! :) Cloud is one of my favorite FF7 characters, and senseless Cloud bashing makes me very sad.

[beccadg]

Vincent is my favorite FF7 character, I got Dirge of Cerberus for Christmas, but I like Cloud too. :)

[insaneladybug]

Vincent's awesome too! ^^

I actually like most all of the characters, when I think about it. XD Even the ones I really don't like advance the plot, such as Hojo and Lucrecia.

[xander77]

At first I read "CS" as Caith Sith. THAT would have been a difficult defense.

[insaneladybug]

LOL. Cait Sith doesn't bother me, though I know he's annoying to some. He amuses me more than anything, I suppose.

[luna_hoshino]

After Aerith died, I used Cait Sith as my healer and he was actually pretty damn good for that role. Enemy Skill materia with White Wind = awesome.

[bofoddity]

Although I actually resent the ZACK + CLOUD = BFF!!1!!! idea a little, that second argument is just utterly ridiculous. I also like how it's ignored that Cloud never, in fact, stole Zack's entire life, but rather used Zack's life to make his own more glorious. But I guess simplifying things is the way of the bashers. (See also: "Tifa was a bitch to him when they were kids! How dare she not worship the ground beneath his feet?!")

As for the fourth argument, I have to laugh how those people have managed to miss the point of Cloud's character: What made him so great that he was a nobody with all the odds against him, only to victor anyway, and his victories wouldn't have had such impact if he hadn't been deconstructed from a cool mercenary to a poser. That's why his victories mattered so much. But if Last Order managed to miss that point, I guess I shouldn't be surprised that the fans do too, though in different ways.

The emo argument makes me see more red than any other arguments because if you bother to look beneath the surface,

[insaneladybug]

Totally agreed about your assessment of the fourth argument! I threw that one in there mainly because I've actually seen people upset because Cloud rose from being a nobody to being a somebody. It boggles my brain.

**reads your rant.** Suicidal Cloud has got to be one of the most idiotic fan concepts out there. The poor guy is depressed, but what caring person wouldn't feel that way, after all that? And depressed does not always equate MUST DIE NOW. **rolls eyes.**

And flawed characters are totally great, indeed. Cloud is fascinating because of his strengths AND his weaknesses, and how he deals with them.

[bofoddity]

Yeah, a lot of people have trouble understanding that being depressed doesn't always mean you're suicidal as well, nor that you're into self-harm. Self-neglect (poor hygiene, etc.) is just as bad as cutting yourself, even if it lacks the drama. :P

Also, I feel I should apology for forcing the rant on you. Sometimes I forget how I like to let loose with the capslock.

[insaneladybug]

XD That's alright. It was a very interesting read, and I liked how you put in quotes from the game and movie (and novel) to back you up. ^^ It definitely drove home how many layers Cloud has to his personality.

I was especially interested in how you talked of Cloud's anger towards Sephiroth, that without Sephiroth Cloud would have no one to blame but himself. That's one of the concepts I've explored a lot in a post-DoC fanfiction series of mine. ^^

[silver_magess]

You know, I didn't like Cloud my first time through because I was so frustrated with him and by a fandom that kept playing Aeris and Tifa against each other like he was a great prize and only one could be WORTHY of him. But then I played it again and also came across the stuff between him and Zack and suddenly liked him a whole lot more.

Why is it so out there for him to have beaten Sephiroth though? Then again, I might be one of the few people who doesn't think he's the end all, be all of FF villians.

[insaneladybug]

I have no idea why it bothers some people that Cloud defeated Seph. XD; I've seen some people angry that Cloud became a somebody from a nobody, but that's more of a grudge against all such characters and not Cloud himself, I think.

I love Seph myself, but I'm probably one of the few who'd rather have him sane. ^^ Crisis Core makes me squee.

And the fandom pitting Aerith and Tifa against each other is definitely one of the most irritating things. XD; The problem is easily solved by letting Aerith have Zack! Zack/Aerith is probably my only FF7 OTP.

[llivla]

Zack/Aerith! FTW!!! I love the scene when he's fighting and talking Aerith on his cell at the same time in Crisis Core. xD Only thing better is Cloud, Zack, and Aerith all together! *shot* I'm thoroughly convinced however that Sora, Riku, and Kairi are the Sephiroth, Aerith, Cloud, and Zack's illegitimate love children *shot again*

I hate Tifa-bashing. D; I may not connect with her or adore her, but...jeez, she exists perfectly fine like a sane, normal, well-adjusted person with and outside of Cloud despite that her dad was murdered in cold blood when she was a teenager. >< Fandom has such high standards....